"We are taking our distance runners to Washington again because that's where the fish are schooling," Bucknam explained of the premier men's and women's distance runners chasing NCAA Indoor qualifying marks.

"The distance events will be down at Tyson to what people are used to," Harter said. "But the sprints definitely will make up for it."

So will the horizontal jumps and high jump and of course Saturday's 3 p.m. women's pole vault featuring Razorbacks All-Americans Lexi Jacobus and Tori Hoggard, the twin sisters growing up in Cabot as Lexi and Tori Weeks before their marriages, and Desiree Freier.

Enduring a rare rebuilding year, Bucknam's men don't have their customary superstar sprinter like Olympic hurdles champion Omar McLeod and Bowerman Award winner Jarrion Lawson, but visiting elite men's sprinters abound headed by Florida superstar Grant Holloway. The national leader in the 60-meter hurdles and No 2 nationally in the long jump and 200-meter dash, Holloway thrived on Randal Tyson's fast track at last month's Razorback Invitational.

"With Holloway coming back it would not surprise me if there is an NCAA record or beyond that a U.S. record," Bucknam said.

"USC is the No. 2 in the team in the nation," Harter said. "Georgia, one of the top teams in the nation. Florida, LSU ... all that sprint cadre are coming to match up with our crew. You will see basically a preview of the NCAA Championships. So it's going to be a who's who that can run fast that are going to be here on our track."

Arkansas' women have started so strong in all phases that Harter was asked if he frets they peak too early.

"No," Harter replied. "The way the training is designed we are right on schedule."

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Nate Allen

Nate Allen is a columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Allen is a voter for the Heisman Trophy, has been inducted into the Arkansas Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame, and has authored three books about the Razorbacks.